Ayona Bhaduri

🪔 About

Ayona Bhaduri is a highly acclaimed Indian classical dancer specializing in Odissi, recognized as one of its finest young exponents. Born in Kolkata, India, she initially trained in Bharatnatyam for seven and a half years under Guru Meena Mukherjee. Her journey into Odissi began at Nrityagram, Bangalore, where she underwent intensive training from 1998 to 2007 under the tutelage of renowned gurus Bijayini Satpathy and Surupa Sen. During her time at Nrityagram, Bhaduri was exposed to a diverse range of dance forms and techniques, including Abhinaya (from Kalanidhi Narayan), Yoga, Pilates, Kalaripayattu, Modern Dance, Ballet, Chi Gung, Theatre, Voice & Gesture, and injury prevention. She also delved into the distinct styles of Odissi, learning Guru Pankaj Charan Das's approach from Dr. Ratna Roy and Guru Debaprasad Das's style from Sangeeta Dash. Further honing her skills, she trained at the National Dance Institute and Mark Morris Dance Company in the USA, and worked with stalwarts like Navtej Singh Johar and Ramli Ibrahim. Bhaduri's career as a performer is extensive, with over 300 stage performances in India and internationally. She toured widely with the internationally acclaimed Nrityagram Dance Ensemble. From July 2008 to May 2012, she served as a Senior Repertory Dancer and Administrator at the Odissi Vision & Movement Centre in Kolkata, an institution led by choreographer Sharmila Biswas. Currently, she performs as a soloist, having graced prestigious stages such as the American Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Spoleto USA Festival, and the Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C. She is an accredited member of CID UNESCO and is empaneled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and India World Cultural Forum (IWCF). Beyond performing, she has conducted workshops for SPIC MACAY in Rajasthan. Bhaduri, who initially considered a career in engineering, chose dance due to her parents' encouragement. She is also noted as a Bachelor of Science student at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Awards & Honours: Senior scholarship in Odissi from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, Nalanda Nritya Nipuna Award (2010), Odissi Jyoti title (2009).